Gwadar Belongs to Its People: BAP Leader Demands Transparency on Oman-Pakistan Agreement

Quetta – Central Information Secretary of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Kahda Babar, has stated that *“Gwadar was ours and will remain ours,”* emphasizing that although Pakistan purchased Gwadar from Oman, it does not mean the people of Gwadar have no rights over their land and resources.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Kahda Babar responded strongly to remarks made by Federal Minister for Railways, Hanif Abbasi. He asserted that Gwadar is not just a purchased territory but a land deeply tied to the identity, history, and generations of its native inhabitants.

Babar demanded that the details of the agreement between Pakistan and Oman over Gwadar be made public. *“The nation deserves to know the terms under which Gwadar was acquired,”* he said, adding that it is essential to reveal whether the rights of local people were considered in that agreement.

He reiterated that Gwadar is not the personal estate of any individual and called for equal participation of the local population in decision-making, development, and utilization of natural resources. *“It is a fundamental right of the people of Gwadar to be included in all aspects of their region’s progress,”* Babar stated.

The statement reflects growing concerns among Balochistan’s political circles over local inclusion in national-level decisions affecting the province’s future.